Water: Science, Society, and Policy”” delves into the multifaceted dimensions of water as a critical natural resource, examining its scientific properties, societal implications, and the intricate policy frameworks that govern its management. Through an interdisciplinary lens, students will gain an in-depth understanding of water’s vital role in ecosystems, human societies, and global sustainability.nnWater serves a diverse set of societal needs (economic, ecologic, cultural etc.), and in an increasingly water-stressed world affected by climate change, these needs are often in conflict. In this three-part course, we will tackle the afore-mentioned questions. Students will first be introduced to hydrological processes in the environment (aka the ‘water cycle’). Next, we will focus on how various societies interact with the environment around them and in so doing, how they alter the hydrology around them. This will be done using case studies from around the world to investigate how changing hydrology due to climate change, and the various ways different societies use water, lead to conflicts. Finally, in the third part, students will learn about various stakeholder perspectives on Karachi’s water system. They will then use this information to present an equitable plan to better manage the City’s water system.nnThis course will expose students to important concepts in water resources policy and management. It is designed to help students develop an informed perspective on 21st century water challenges, and by extension, natural resource allocation problems. No pre-requisites are needed for this course.
